Left: Spain's Sergio Garcia lines up a putt on the 13th green during the first round of the British Open, at Carnoustie, yesterday. Garcia shot a six-under 65 to lead by two strokes going into today's second round.Right: Tiger Woods of the United States smiles after holing a birdie putt on the 16th green during the first round of the British Open at Carnoustie yesterday. Woods shot a two-under 69 to be four strokes off the pace going into today's second round.

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP):

IT WASN'T 'Car-Nasty' this time around - especially for Sergio Garcia.

Still trying to remove that unwanted title of best player never to win a major, Garcia took advantage of charitable conditions at Carnoustie to shoot a six-under-par 65 in the opening round of the British Open, yesterday, and take a two-stroke lead.

Quite an improvement over his last Open appearance at this historic links along the North Sea - an 89-83 embarrassment in 1999 that sent him home before the weekend at 30 over.

"Most improved, I guess," Garcia quipped. "This is a good start. It's definitely what the doctor ordered."

Garcia was two shots clear of Ireland's Paul McGinley, a Ryder Cup stalwart who has never done much individually, but shot 67. Rory McIlroy, an 18-year-old amateur from Northern Ireland, was among the group another shot back, joined by U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera and the guy who won that event two years ago, Michael Campbell.

Tiger in the thick of things

McIlroy provided a tantalising glimpse of the sport's future with a 68, the only bogey-free round of the day.

"I'll take a 68," the teenager said, "and I'll take three more to finish."

Tiger Woods was right in the thick of things again, sinking an improbable 90-foot putt on his way to a 69 that put him solidly in contention for his third straight Open title.

This links along the North Sea, considered one of the toughest tests in major championship golf, was toned down after it terrorised the world's best when last hosting the Open in 1999. That one left the enduring image of players trying to hack out of waist-high rough and Jean Van de Velde standing barefooted in the Barry Burn, throwing away a three-shot lead at the 72nd hole.

With the greens softened up by plenty of rain over the past few days and only light breezes rolling in off the sea, the players could attack the fearsome course. It helped, too, that Open officials widened the fairways and shaved back the rough.

In '99, the lowest score through 72 holes was six over; today's cut will likely be lower than that.